Grass Valley Elementary School

3000 Northwest Grass Valley Drive

School District

Camas
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 12, 2024

I feel extremely lucky every day to have a student at this school. The staff and administration are caring and truly care about every child. I have had nothing but great experiences at this school.
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2018

Camas parents brag about how great the school system is, but ask any one of them what makes it great and you'll hear talk about safety and test scores. Those are important but they do not make schools great. Grass Valley has a principal and teachers who (with a couple notable exceptions) come across as disinterested and distant. The teachers like Principal McMillan because he sticks up for them and gives them what they want. They do nothing exceptional for students or parents that would warrant calling the school "great" or making it worthy of 5 or even 4 stars here. No science fair, no spelling bee, no extracurricular sports, talent show, Halloween parade, holiday show, what-have-you beyond the couple events the PTO puts on with virtually zero school support. And the PTO struggles to put on things as well because parent involvement at the school is also poor. GVE does have music during school but the kids complain about the music teacher (and she herself touts) often focusing more on non-music-related "life lessons" than on music. Other elementary schools in Camas do more for the kids, do more to get parents involved, and make the kids feel more special than does Grass Valley. Time for GVE parents and staff to stop patting themselves on the back.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2013

Having experienced 2 years at this school I am so vey glad we made the move from the East Coast to raise our family in Camas, WA. Wonderful school and amazing leadership.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2013

This is my son's third year at GVE. I love it because he has soared academically and socially with very little added support at home. More importantly, he loves it. He's very proud to be a zebra and he has taught the whole family the school song.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2013

My oldest is about to begin his 4th year at Grass Valley Elementary. I love that he has always been challenged in his classes, given extra help when he struggled and is surrounded by caring teachers and staff. Academically, Grass Valley soars but what makes the school special is so much more than grades. They reward positive behavior, celebrate students and their successes and do such a great job at making the kids feel a part of the Zebra family.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2013

I can't say enough good things about this school. This is our third year here and we have two children that attend this school. The teachers are amazing and quick to fix anything that arises. The staff is incredible--they know everyone's name and many of parent's too! The principal is wonderful and seriously knows EVERY student by name. I recently worked with her at a school event and I was amazed that she not only knew ALL of the kids names (and there were several hundred there), she knew their parents too! The academics are paramount and we have loved all of our teachers. They have specialists who work with kids who need extra help in reading, writing, math, etc. The only thing I wish they had was a bigger play structure, however, there is a lot of room for the kids to run and play at recess, just not a huge play structure. It's a great school and if you are lucky enough to have your kids attend, you will NOT be dissapointed.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2012

Every day when I drop off or pick up my daughter from school, I feel two things: lucky and proud. When we moved to this neighborhood, GVE was still being built, so although the district has a stellar reputation, we didn't know what GVE would be like. It has surpassed my highest expectations for public education. The teachers and staff are committed, kind, patient, and incredibly skilled in classroom management. The principle knows every student by name, and every parent, too! When our daughter has had challenges, the teachers have been ON IT - talking to us as parents and getting a whole team of staff members to consult and figure out the best strategy to help her. The principle is both liked and respected, and most importantly, approachable. Last but not least, the building - the environment in which learning takes place - is absolutely beautiful. It's bright, airy, modern without being offputting, colorful without being overwhelming, and is one of the "greenest" schools in Washington State. The playground is well-maintained, and there's a huge volunteer-maintained kids' garden where the kids plant flowers and watch things grow. Like I said: Lucky and proud.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2012

We still have Zebra Pride as we move into our 3rd year here! GVE is a wonderful school, with a stellar principal, great teachers and a respectful student body, it offers outstanding academics & extracurriculars like music, jazz choir , gym, computers, art and science in a modern, beautiful facility. The staff work as a team, led by Principal Erdmann -- the foundation on which the school's greatness is built. The teachers are terrific. Our favorite is Mrs. Hanson -- she's one of those once-in-a-lifetime teachers that really gets her students and challenges and engages them. We really like Mrs. Woodruff, the librarian, and Ms. Wilson, the music teacher who created our award-winning jazz vocal choir! Mr. Hughes makes P.E. a fun and enjoyable part of the kids lives and his Field Day is always fun! And we're fond of the school counselor, Mr. Causey, who fosters a safe environment where bullying is not tolerated and works hard to develop appropriate social skills and coping strategies with students. The office, cafeteria and custodial staff are all warm and pleasant too! Everyone here is pretty great. We ll miss GVE when we change schools next fall due to boundary revisions.